Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Subject "Abia State"

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    ItemOpen Access
    Application of geographical information system (GIS) in selected soil mapping for crop production in selected local Government areas of Abia State, Nigeria
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2023-06) Essoribe, Nestor Ugochukwu
    This study used Geographic Information System (GIS) as a mapping tool to evaluate the suitability of selected soils of different parent materials for crop production (Tomato, Cabbage, Cucumber and Watermelon) in Southeastern Nigeria. A free survey technique was used in situating soil profile pits. Five (5) Profile pits were dug on each of three (3) dissimilar lithologies, giving a total of fifteen (15) profile Pits. Pits were dug, described and sampled according to FAO (2006). Undisturbed soil samples were collected using core samplers for bulk density and moisture content determination. While soil colour and other morphological properties were determined in-situ. Routine analyses were carried out using standard methods. Ordinary kriging was used to interpolate the values at unsampled location, generating spatial distribution maps for each soil property using geographic information software ArcGIS 10.2. Land suitability evaluation was carried out using FAO(2006) land suitability evaluation method. Soils of Amuro were Sandy Clay , Isiobuzor were Loamy Sand and Umunneochi (Isuochi) were Sandy Loam. The percentage sand content was significantly higher in Umunneochi (856.50g/kg, P<0.01) followed by Isiobuzor(845.30g/kg, P<0.05). Clay content was significantly higher in Amuro (284.50g/kg, P<0.01) and lowest in Isiobuzor (55.910g/kg, P<0.05).While Bulk density was significantly higher in Amuro (1.444gcm, P<0.01) and low in Isiobuzor (1.33gcm, P<0.05). The soils of the areas were acidic irrespective of the parent materials and were ranked thus Isiobuzor>Umunneochi>Amuro. Organic carbon of all the selected soils was generally low and followed thus Umunneochi>Amuro>Isiobuzor. Percentage base saturation was ranked Isiobuzor > Amuro> Umunneochi. Percentage base saturation showed a significant positive correlation with sand (r=0.774, P<0.01) The soil of Umunneochi was highly suitable (S1) for cucumber and watermelon production. The soil of Isiobuzor was moderately suitable(S2) for cucumber and water melon production. the soil of Amuro was not suitable for cucumber and water melon production as a result of the soil texture (NI). All the soils of the study areas were marginally suitable (S3) for Cabbage and tomato production. The soils of Umunneochi and Isiobuzor were classified as Typic Hapludalf(Soil Taxonomy) while the soil of Amuro was classified as Typic Endoaquoll. The kriging map showed that sand was highest at Umunneochi and decreasd down to Amuro and Isiobuzor. Clay content increased from Umunneochi down to Amuro and decreased to Isiobuzor. The moisture content, Bulk density increased from Umunneochi down to Amuro and thereafter decreased to Isiobuzor. Total porosity decreased from Umunneochi down to Amuro thereafter increased at Isiobuzor. Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and base saturation (Bs) increased from Umunneochi down to Amuro and lowest at Isiobuzor. Aluminium (Al), Bulk density (BD), Total nitrogen were highest at Umunneochi and dereased down to Amuro to Isiobuzor.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Classification of soils on slopes of varying orientations in Umuahia area of Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2018-10) Aliba, Vero O.
    Slope aspect affects soil properties. The study characterized and classified soils on slopes of varying orientations in Umudike (East-lying Topo sequence) and Itu (West-lying Topo sequence), both in Olokoro Umuahia, southeastern Nigeria. Transect soil sampling technique was employed in locating three distinct positions, namely summit, midslope and foot slope along each of the topo sequences at the East and West-lying orientations. A profile pit was dug at the most representative points of the topo sequences in each of the two locations and the soil profiles were described in situ, following the FAO guidelines. Soil samples were collected from each pedon based on the horizon differentiations and subjected to routine laboratory analyses. The soils were classified using the USDA Soil Taxonomy and correlated with the FAO World Reference Base. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis (coefficient of variability and correlation) using the Genstat computer package. Results showed that soils of the East-lying slope were edominantly sandy-clay loam at the summit but sandy clay at the mid and foot slopes, while in the West-lying slope, the texture was dominantly sandy-clay loam at both the summit and mid slope but prominently sandy loam at the foot slope. Soils of East-lying slope had very dark grayish brown (10YR3/2) moist to strong brown (7.5YR5/8)moist, dark brown (7.5R3/2) to strong brown (7.5YR5/8) moist, dark gray (5YR4/1) to reddish yellow(7.5R6/8) moist colours at the summit, mid slope and foot slope respectively, while that of the West-lying topo sequence varied from brown (7.5YR4/2) moist to yellowish colour (5YR5/6), very dark grey (7.5YR3/1) moist to yellowish red (5YR5/8),very dark grayish brown (10YR3/2) moist to reddish yellow (5YR6/6) moist colours at the summit, midslope and foot slope, respectively. The weathering intensity of the soils varied from moderate to high with silt-clay ratios ranging from 0.04-0.93, 0.04-1.26 and 0.04-0.66 at the summit, mid slope and foot slope respectively, in the East-lying topo sequence and from 0.04-070, 0.27-1.59 and 0.14-1.08 at the summit, mid slope and foot slope respectively, i n the West-lying topo sequence. Bulk densities of soils increased with depth with mean values of 1.36 gcm-3, 1.32 g cm-3, and 1.34 g cm-3 recorded at the summit, slope and foot slope respectively, in the East-lying topo sequence and 1.37 g cm-3 , 1.33 g cm 3 and 1.32 g cm-3 at the summit, mid slope and foot slope respectively, in the West lying topo sequence. High variation (CV>35%) was noted in Ksat in the profiles of the top sequence, with values of Ksat ranging from 0.3-1.11 cm hr-1, 0.19-1.96 cm hr-1and 0.15-1.47 cm hr-1 at the summit, midslope and foot slope, respectively in the West-lying topo sequence whereas in the xiast-lying topo sequence, the values ranged from 0.18-2 cm hr-1 , 0.11-1.97 cm hr-1and 0.12-1.48 hr-1 at the summit, mid slope and foot slope, respectively. Soil pH was very strongly acidic (4.58-4.78) in the East-lying topo sequence but varied from very strongly acidic to strongly acidic (4.52-5.30), in the west lying topo sequence. Organic matter concentration was generally higher at the epipedons and ranged from (26.44to 23.36) gkg-1 and (30.64to 18.9) gkg-1 in soils of the East-lying and West-lying slopes, respectively. Effective cation exchange capacity varied from (8.63- 13.79) cmolkg-1 in the East-lying topo sequence and (10.42- 16.31) cmolkg-1 in the West –lying topo sequence. Soils of East-lying topo sequence were classified as Grossarenic Paleudalfs, Typic Paleudalfs and Arenic Hapludalfs Typic (USDA) at the summit, midslope and footslope, respectively and correlated with Mollic Luvisols of the World Reference Base (WRB) whereas the soils of West-lying slope were classified as Arenic Glossudalfs, Typic Paleudalfs and Typic Ferrudalfs (USDA) at the summit, midslope and footslope, respectively which correlate to Haplic Albeluvisols of the WRB (FAO) legend